Is this true? Can anyone living in Japan confirm this, or is this just trying to be sensational?

Justin Norrie, TokyoApril 21, 2008

MARIKO Watanabe admits she could have chosen a better time to take up baking. This week, when the Tokyo housewife visited her local Ito-Yokado supermarket to buy butter to make a cake, she found the shelves bare.

"I went to another supermarket, and then another, and there was no butter at those either. Everywhere I went there were notices saying Japan has run out of butter. I couldn't believe it — this is the first time in my life I've wanted to try baking cakes and I can't get any butter," said the frustrated cook.

Japan's acute butter shortage, which has confounded bakeries, restaurants and now families across the country, is the latest unforeseen result of the global agricultural commodities crisis.

A sharp increase in the cost of imported cattle feed and a decline in milk imports, both of which are typically provided in large part by Australia, have prevented dairy farmers from keeping pace with demand.

While soaring food prices have triggered rioting among the starving millions of the third world, in wealthy Japan they have forced a pampered population to contemplate the shocking possibility of a long-term — perhaps permanent — reduction in the quality and quantity of its food.

A 130% rise in the global cost of wheat in the past year, caused partly by surging demand from China and India and a huge injection of speculative funds into wheat futures, has forced the Government to hit flour millers with three rounds of stiff mark-ups. The latest — a 30% increase this month — has given rise to speculation that Japan, which relies on imports for 90% of its annual wheat consumption, is no longer on the brink of a food crisis, but has fallen off the cliff.

According to one government poll, 80% of Japanese are frightened about what the future holds for their food supply.

.... A sharp increase in the cost of imported cattle feed and a decline in milk imports, both of which are typically provided in large part by Australia, have prevented dairy farmers from keeping pace with demand. ....

We have been in our worst drought since European settlement which has only recently eased with rainfall in agricultural areas in the eastern states. Domestic demand for stock feed has pushed the price up and combined with low production levels has reduced the amount available for export. The price of meat and to a lesser extent dairy has risen here.

.... A 130% rise in the global cost of wheat in the past year, caused partly by surging demand from China and India and a huge injection of speculative funds into wheat futures, has forced the Government to hit flour millers with three rounds of stiff mark-ups. The latest — a 30% increase this month — has given rise to speculation that Japan, which relies on imports for 90% of its annual wheat consumption, is no longer on the brink of a food crisis, but has fallen off the cliff....

Many grain growers here haven't produced a wheat crop in years or have had crops with very poor yields. The price of bread has increased significantly as bakers have to pay higher prices for flour.

Any country such as Japan that relies heavily on imports is going to suffer shortages and higher prices when the countries that supply those items can not meet demand due to adverse local conditions. If we get some good winter rains production will be back up and exports to Japan will probably hit record levels as producers try to make up for years of low production.

Don't complain to me that people kick you when you're down. It's your own fault for lying there

The adjustment of production by governmental policy in 2006 for domestic dairy farmers( because of excess of production) has raised the shortage of butter supply. Yes, our government couldn't estimate "A sharp increase in the cost of imported cattle feed".

But I think the shortage of butter is rather related with the price increases that is implemented on May 1st. In the middle of March, the makers of butter announced that they were going to increase (8-10% in consumer price ) their products prices. Please imagine. Do managers of dairy companies want to abundantly provide their products before price rising? I think they rather want to adjust their supply. Of course it is fact that many Japanese are much concerned / worried about the low rate of our food self-sufficiency.

Today, a monthly analysis report of the dairy products was announced by MAFF(Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries of Japan).According to the report, the private companies still have 19,200 tons of butter stocks(backlogs) at end of this March. It's about 25% of their products in the last financial year. And an administrative corporation,farming and stockbreeding industries institution(?) (農畜産業機構 ), has 200 tons. Compared to last 5 month( from Oct to February), the stock quantity became the largest. At least at that time (end of March), the shortage have been improving. http://www.maff.go.jp/lin/pdf/seisan-gyuunyuu.pdfIt is natural that consumers want to buy products before increasing the price. Moreover, the press reporting about the food shortage makes more rushed buying. ----Mikeさん、1993年に日本にいなかった？あのときは米不足で都内ではお米が買えませんでした。親戚に送ってもらった記憶があるので、地域によってはそれほど深刻ではなかったのかもしれません。

The adjustment of production by governmental policy in 2006 for domestic dairy farmers( because of excess of production) has raised the shortage of butter supply. Yes, our government couldn't estimate "A sharp increase in the cost of imported cattle feed".

But I think the shortage of butter is rather related with the price increases that is implemented on May 1st. In the middle of March, the makers of butter announced that they were going to increase (8-10% in consumer price ) their products prices. Please imagine. Do managers of dairy companies want to abundantly provide their products before price rising? I think they rather want to adjust their supply. Of course it is fact that many Japanese are much concerned / worried about the low rate of our food self-sufficiency.

Sorry for my poor English. I hope this makes sense.

おはようございます、cocoさん。久し振りね！

Yes, no need to worry, your English is fine. I also thought that the article was very exaggerating, especially the title (Japan's hunger, like, what the hell?). What you said about the dairy companies and the upcoming increase in price makes sense, so I don't think it's any wonder that there is a shortage of butter especially in a huge city like 東京.

Dairy prices have been rising here in Finland as well. A liter of milk now costs a euro. A real ripoff. And with milk being so expensive by the liter, how expensive do you think stuff like cheese is right now...